Baird & Warner, Illinois’ largest family-owned independent real estate services company, today announced the hiring of Bob Kohler, formerly of Compass, as vice president, sales manager of the firm’s Winnetka office on Chicago’s North Shore. The company has also promoted Negeen Masghati to vice president, sales manager at Baird & Warner South Loop.
“Baird & Warner is proud to welcome Bob Kohler as the VP sales manager of the Winnetka office, where we’re confident our outstanding agents will benefit from his expertise and leadership,” said Laura Ellis, president of residential sales and executive vice president of Baird & Warner. “In a rapidly changing market where multiple offers continue to dominate, Bob’s insight will add value to every transaction, making the process easier for buyers and sellers.”
Before his time at Compass, Kohler was director of the rental division at Coldwell Banker, where he spearheaded initiatives and mentored and trained staff for two years. Kohler spent 17 years with Coldwell Banker in various roles in both the residential and commercial markets.
“I’m excited to help Baird & Warner Winnetka agents grow their business by accessing the myriad training resources available, as well as cultivate our recruitment efforts to add talent,” Kohler said. “After being with national real estate companies for my entire career, I chose Baird & Warner because it’s big, yet independent, and more receptive to suggestions and new ideas. That’s a true market differentiator, because they know how to harness the talents of their agents – and a primary driver of how Baird & Warner has been successful in nailing the culture component – while larger firms spend a lot of money to achieve the same thing, yet never come close.”
In her new South Loop role, Masghati will draw on her experience as assistant manager of Baird & Warner Lincoln Park, where she excelled in providing agent support. She has been with the firm since starting her real estate career in 2014.
“As a family-run brokerage, Baird & Warner provided exactly what I had been looking for when entering the real estate business – a culture that evoked a feeling of coming home to a family,” Masghati said. “It also gave me the tools I needed to grow my business over the years. I’m looking forward to expanding the Baird & Warner South Loop office and our family of agents in helping them use new resources like Baird & Warner balanceTM to further develop their amazing careers.”
Introduced last year, Baird & Warner balanceTM connects agents with multiple on-demand services to make their day-to-day lives easier, including help with managing listings and social media, and support with administrative needs and sales contracts.
As nonselling managers, Kohler and Masghati will be completely focused on their brokerage teams’ development and success, whereas managing brokers and sales managers at other firms are allowed to buy and sell, essentially competing against their own agents.
Baird & Warner Winnetka has fulfilled the real estate needs of the North Shore community for more than 75 years, serving Winnetka, Wilmette, Northfield, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, and Deerfield.
Baird & Warner South Loop works with buyers and sellers in the South Loop and its surrounding neighborhoods: Hyde Park, Pilsen, Chinatown, Bridgeport, University Village, West Loop, and near Downtown Loop.
About Baird & Warner Real Estate, Inc.: Established in 1855, Baird & Warner is Illinois’ largest family-owned independent real estate services company. The Baird & Warner brand has been synonymous with making real estate easier through experience, innovation and integrity for more than 160 years. Steve Baird, the firm’s fifth-generation owner, has been consistently recognized among the industry’s most influential leaders. Baird & Warner has been named a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace for eight years in a row. With more than 2,500 broker associates in 27 offices and comprehensive mortgage, title and relocation services, Baird & Warner ranks among the nation’s top real estate firms. In 2022, Baird & Warner received the Most Innovative Brokerage Award from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a global network of 550 leading independent real estate firms. Learn more at BairdWarner.com.
